New Antioch hardware store set to open in the face of tough economy
The new Ace Hardware on Antioch's west side is sure to be welcomed by lovers of tools and paint, but the 26,000-square-foot building is also embraced by village officials as a new tax and job generator.
Located at routes 173 and 59, the store is adjacent to a National City Bank and CVS pharmacy. It is set to open April 19.
The new business means new jobs at a time when many people are struggling to find work. Vice President of Operations Rich Laskowski said the store will employ 50 people.
"We are really sensitive to the fact that so many people are out of work," Laskowski said. "Some of the people we interviewed hadn't worked in a year. We heard some sad stories."
About 25 positions will be filled with new employees from Antioch and the surrounding areas. The other 25 will be experienced staff who will transfer to the Antioch store from other stores owned by the Laskowski family. Those positions will then be filled with new employees.
Dustin Nilsen, Antioch's director of planning and zoning, said the new store is by far the village's largest new construction project in the past few years. He said the business is a welcome sight in the midst of the downturn. Nilsen said the village will benefit from sales tax revenue generated by the store, but didn't have exact figures.
"This is a good tax generator in a high profile location," he said. "It's a good fit by a family with a proven track record. They are making a very serious investment in light of the state of the economy. This is a great addition to our corporate community."
The Laskowski family has a long history with Ace Hardware. The Antioch store will be their eighth. The first store opened in 1962 in Round Lake. They've also opened stores in Libertyville, Gurnee, Grayslake, Waukegan, Mundelein and Wauconda. The stores employ nearly 300 people, Laskowski said.
The Spring Grove resident said a depressed economy does have some bright spots, especially when it comes to new construction.
"If you have funds available in this economy, you have an advantage," he said. "The price is right for construction costs."
It's been awhile since Antioch has had a smaller hardware store. The Tru-Value closed in 2008 and the former Ace shut its doors in 2007.
The Oak Brook-based Ace Hardware Corporation celebrated its 85th anniversary in 2009 and has 4,400 stores nationwide, according to its Web site.
The Antioch Ace faces competition from the big-box Menard's on the east side of town, but Laskowski said not everybody wants to shop in the giant centers. The size can be overwhelming for some, he said.
He's hoping the arrival of warm weather brings plenty of shoppers.
"Spring is a great time to be opening," he said. "We've been hearing that people are excited to have an Ace back in town."